%MAPPINGS Info on the mapping class construction of PRTools
% 
% This is not a command, just an information file.
% 
% Mappings in PRTools are in the MATLAB language defined as objects of the
% class MAPPING. In the text below, the words 'object' and 'class' are used
% in the pattern recognition sense.
%
% In the Pattern Recognition Toolbox PRTools, there are many commands to
% define, train and use mappings between spaces of different (or equal)
% dimensionalities. Mappings operate mainly on datasets, i.e. variables of
% the type DATASET (see also DATASETS) and generate datasets and/or other
% mappings. For example:
%  
% 	if		A   is an M x K dataset (M objects in a K-dimensional space)
% 	and 	W   is a  K x N mapping (a map from K to N dimensions)
% 	then	A*W is an M x N dataset (M objects in a N-dimensional space)
%
% This is enabled by overloading the *-operator for the MAPPING variables.
% A*W is executed by MAP(A,W) and may also be called as such.
%
% Mappings can be linear (e.g. a rotation) as well as nonlinear (e.g. a
% neural network). Typically they are used to represent classifiers. In that
% case, a K x C mapping maps a K-feature data vector on the output space of
% a C-class classifier (an exception: some 2-class classifiers, like the
% discriminant functions may be implemented by a mapping onto a 1-dimensional 
% space determined by the distance to the discriminant).
% 
% Mappings are of the data-type MAPPING (CLASS(W) is a MAPPING), have a size
% of K x C if they map from K to C dimensions. Four types of mapping are 
% defined:
%
%	- untrained, V = A*W	
%   Trains the untrained mapping W, resulting in the trained mapping V. W
%   has to be defined by W = MAPPING(MAPPING_FILE,{PAR1, PAR2}), in which
%   MAPPING_FILE is the name of the routine that executes the training and
%   PAR1, and PAR2 are two parameters that have to be included into the call
%   to THE MAPPING_FILE. Consequently, A*W is executed by PRTools as
%   MAPPING_FILE(A,PAR1,PAR2).
%
%		Example: train the 3-NN classifier on the generated data
% 	  W = knnc([],3); 				% untrained classifier
% 	  V = gendatd([50 50])*W; % trained classifier
% 	
% - trained, D = B*V	
%   Maps the dataset B on the trained mapping or classifier V, e.g. as
%   trained above. The resulting dataset D has as many objects (rows) as A,
%   but its feature size is now C if V is a K x C mapping. Typically, C is
%   the number of classes in the training set A or a reduced number of
%   features determined by the the training of V. V is defined by
%   V = MAPPING(MAPPING_FILE,'trained',DATA,LABELS,SIZE_IN,SIZE_OUT),
%   in which the MAPPING_FILE is the name of the routine that executes the
%   mapping, DATA is a field in which the parameters are stored (e.g.
%   weights) for the mapping execution, LABELS are the feature labels to be
%   assigned to the resulting dataset D = B*V (e.g. the class names) and
%   SIZE_IN and SIZE_OUT are the dimensionalities of the input and output
%   spaces. They are used for error checking only. D = B*V is executed by
%   PRTools as MAPPING_FILE(B,W).
%
%		Example: 
%     A = gendatd([50 50],10);	% generate random 10D datasets
%   	B = gendatd([50 50],10);
%   	W = klm([],0.9);  			 	% untrained mapping, Karhunen-Loeve projection
%   	V = A*W;									% trained mapping V
%   	D = B*V;									% the result of the projection of B onto V
%
% - fixed, D = A*W 
%   Maps the dataset A by the fixed mapping W, resulting into a transformed
%   dataset D. Examples are scaling and normalization, e.g. W =
%   MAPPING('SIGM','fixed',S) defines a fixed mapping by the sigmoid function 
%   SIGM a scaling parameter S. A*W is executed by PRTools as SIGM(A,S).
%
%		Example: normalize the distances of all objects in A such that their 
% 					 city block distances to the origin are one.
%   	A = gendatb([50 50]);
%     W = normm;
% 	  D = A*W;
%
% - combiner, U = V*W 
%   Combines two mappings. The mapping W is able to combine itself with V
%   and produces a single mapping U. A combiner is defined by
%   W = MAPPING(MAPPING_FILE,'combiner',{PAR1,PAR2})
%   in which MAPPING_FILE is the name of the routine that executes the
%   combining and PAR1, and PAR2 are the parameters that have to be included
%   into the call to the MAPPING_FILE. Consequently, V*W is executed by
%   PRTools as MAPPING_FILE(V,PAR1,PAR2). In a call as D = A*V*W, first B =
%   A*V is resolved and may result in a dataset B. Consequently, W should be
%   able to handle datasets, and MAPPING_FILE is now called by
%   MAPPING_FILE(B,PAR1,PAR2) Remark: the combiner construction is not
%   necessary, since PRTools stores U = V*W as a SEQUENTIAL mapping (see
%   below) if W is not a combiner. The construction of combiners, however,
%   may increase the transparency for the user and efficiency in
%   computations.
%
%		Example: 
%     A = gendatd([50 50],10);	% generate random 10D datasets
%   	B = gendatd([50 50],10);
%   	V = klm([],0.9);				  % untrained Karhunen-Loeve (KL) projection
%   	W = ldc;		  						% untrained linear classifier LDC
%   	U = V*W;									% untrained combiner
%   	T = A*U;									% trained combiner
%   	D = B*T;									% apply the combiner (first KL projection, 
%                               %   then LDC) to B
%
% Differences between the four types of mappings are now summarized for
% a dataset A and a mapping W:
%   A*W	  	-  untrained : results in a mapping
% 	  			-  trained   : results in a dataset, size checking
% 		  		-  fixed     : results in a dataset, no size checking
% 			  	-  combiner  : treated as fixed      
%
% Suppose V is a fixed mapping, then for the various possibilities of
% the mapping W, the following holds:
%   A*(V*W) -  untrained : evaluated as V*(A*V*W), resulting in a mapping
% 	  			-  trained   : evaluated as A*V*W, resulting in a dataset
% 	 	  		-  fixed     : evaluated as A*V*W, resulting in a dataset
% 			  	-  combiner  : evaluated as A*V*W, resulting in a dataset
%         
% Suppose V is an untrained mapping, then for the various possibilities of
% the mapping W holds:
%   A*(V*W) -  untrained : evaluated as A*V*(A*(A*V)*W), resulting in a mapping
% 				  -  trained   : evaluated as A*V*W, resulting in a mapping
% 				  -  fixed     : evaluated as A*V*W, resulting in a mapping
% 				  -  combiner  : evaluated as A*(V*W), resulting in a mapping     
%
% Suppose V is a trained mapping, then for the various possibilities of
% the mapping W holds:
%   A*(V*W) -  untrained : evaluated as V*(A*V*W), resulting in a mapping
% 	  			-  trained   : evaluated as A*V*W, resulting in a dataset
% 		  		-  fixed     : evaluated as A*V*W, resulting in a dataset
% 			  	-  combiner  : evaluated as A*(V*W), resulting in a dataset
%
% The data fields stored in the MAPPING W = A*QDC can be found by
% 	STRUCT(W)
% which may display:
% 	MAPPING_FILE: 'normal_map'
% 	MAPPING_TYPE: 'trained'
% 					DATA: [1x1 struct]
% 				LABELS: [2x1 double]
% 			 SIZE_IN: 2
% 			SIZE_OUT: 2
% 				 SCALE: 1
%           COST: []
% 			OUT_CONV: 0
% 					NAME: []
% 					USER: []
% 			 VERSION: {1x2 cell  }
%
% These fields have the following meaning:
% MAPPING_FILE: Name of the m-file that executes the mapping.
% MAPPING_TYPE: Type of mapping: 'untrained','trained','fixed' or 'combiner'.
% DATA				: Parameters or data for handling or executing the mapping.
% LABELS			: Label list used as FEATLAB for labeling the features of the
%               output DATASET.
% SIZE_IN 		: Expected input dimensionality of the data to be mapped.
%               If not set, it is neglected, otherwise it is used for the error
%               checking and display of the mapping size on the command line.
% SIZE_OUT		: Dimensionality of the output space. It should correspond to the
% 							size of LABLIST. SIZE_OUT may be size vector, e.g. describing
% 							the size of an image. See also the FEATSIZE field of DATASET.
% SCALE       : Output multiplication factor. If SCALE is a scalar all
%               multiplied by it. SCALE may also be a vector with size as
%               defined by SIZE_OUT to set separate scalings for each output.
% COST        : Classification costs in case the mapping defines a classifier.
% OUT_CONV		: Defines for trained and fixed mappings the output conversion:
% 							0 - no conversion (to be used for mappings that output 
% 							confidences or densities;
% 							1 - sigmoid (for discriminants that output distances);
% 							2 - normalisation (for converting densities and confidences
% 							into posterior probability estimates;
% 							3 - for performing sigmoid as well as normalisation.
% NAME				: Name of the mapping, used for informing the user on the 
% 							command line, as well as for annotating plots.
% USER				: User field, not used by PRTools.
% VERSION 		: Some information related to the version of PRTools used for
%               the mapping definition.
%
%
% The fields can be set in the following ways:
% 1. At the end of the MAPPING construction command by a set of
% 	 {fieldname, value pairs}, e.g.
% 	 W = MAPPING('affine','trained',DATA,LABELS,5,2,'NAME','PCA Mapping')
% 2. For a given mapping W fields may be changed similarly by the SET command:
% 	 W = SET(W,'NAME','PCA Mapping');
% 3. By the commands SETMAPPING_FILE, SETMAPPING_TYPE, SETDATA, SETLABELS, 
% 	 SETSIZE, SETSIZE_IN, SETSIZE_OUT, SETSCALE, SETOUT_CONV, SETNAME and 
% 	 SETUSER.
% 4. Using the dot extension as for structures, e.g. 
% 	 A.NAME = 'PCA MAPPING'
%
% The information stored in a mapping can be retrieved as follows:
% 1. By DOUBLE(W) and by +W the content of the W.DATA is returned.
%  	 DISPLAY(W) writes the size of the mapping, the number of classes and the
% 	   label type on the terminal screen.
% 	 SIZE(W) returns dimensionalities of input space and output space.
% 	 SCATTERD(A) makes a scatter-plot of a dataset.
% 	 SHOW(W) may be used to display images that are stored in mappings with 
% 	   the MAPPING_FILE 'affine'. 
% 2. By the GET command, e.g: [name,user] = GET(W,'NAME','USER');
% 3. By the commands GETMAPPING_FILE, GETMAPPING_TYPE, GETDATA, GETLABELS, 
% 	 SIZE, GETSIZE, GETSIZE_IN, GETSIZE_OUT, GETSCALE, GETCOST, GETOUT_CONV,
%    GETNAME and GETUSER.
% 4. Using the dot extension as for structures, e.g. NAME = W.NAME;
% 5. The routines ISAFFINE, ISCLASSIFIER, ISCOMBINER, ISEMPTY, ISFIXED, 
% 	 ISTRAINED and ISUNTRAINED test on some mapping types and states.
%
% Some standard MATLAB operations have been overloaded for variables of the 
% type MAPPING. They are defined as follows:
%   W'			Defined for affine mappings only. It returns a transposed mapping.
%   [W V] 	Builds a combined classifier (see STACKED) operating in the same
% 				  feature space. A * [W V] = [A*W A*V].
%   [W;V] 	Builds a combined classifier (see PARALLEL) operating in different
% 				  feature spaces: [A B] * [W;V] = [A*W B*V]. W and V should be 
% 				  mappings that correspond to the feature sizes of A and B.
%   A*W 		Maps a DATASET A by the MAPPING W. This is executed by MAP(A,W).
%   V*W     Combines the mappings V and W sequentially. This is executed by
% 			  	SEQUENTIAL(V,W).
%   W+c 		Defined for affine mappings only. 
%   W(:,K)	Output selection. If W is a trained mapping, just the features 
% 		  		listed in K are returned.

% Copyright: R.P.W. Duin, duin@ph.tn.tudelft.nl
% Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology
% P.O. Box 5046, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands

      
